Industry

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will honor Gerhard Zeiler, President of International at Warner Bros. Discovery, with the 2026 International Emmy Directorate Award.
The Austrian media executive will receive the distinction during the 54th International Emmy Awards Gala, taking place in New York City on November 23, 2026.

“Gerhard Zeiler has built and led some of the world's most influential media businesses, helping shape the international television industry through periods of profound change,” said **Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences**, highlighting Zeiler’s combination of commercial leadership and commitment to creative talent and storytelling.

Accepting the recognition, Zeiler reflected on his long-standing passion for television and its ability to connect audiences across cultures.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the International Academy with the International Emmy Directorate Award,” he said, adding that his international career has given him the opportunity to understand both global trends and local nuances in creating television that resonates with audiences.

Zeiler currently oversees Warner Bros. Discovery’s international operations and has played a central role in the group’s global transformation. Most recently, he supported strategic partnerships that contributed to HBO Max expanding from a single market to more than 130 countries in just over three years.
Following the 2022 merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Zeiler oversaw the integration of their international businesses, bringing together regional leadership, distribution operations and streaming strategies across multiple markets.

His career includes senior positions at Austrian public broadcaster ORF before joining RTL, where he became one of the most prominent executives in European television. As CEO, he helped transform RTL from a collection of national broadcasters into an integrated international media group with a major content production operation.

During his tenure, RTL strengthened its position as one of Europe’s leading entertainment groups and a major international formats player, with brands including Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor successfully expanding into the U.S. market.
Zeiler subsequently served on the Bertelsmann Board for eight years before joining Turner Broadcasting System in 2012. At Turner, then part of Time Warner, he expanded the company’s international activities and strengthened its regional sports and pay-TV operations.

He later helped reshape WarnerMedia’s commercial structure by integrating affiliate and advertising sales and, in 2020, was appointed President of WarnerMedia International, eventually taking on his current leadership role following the creation of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The International Academy has also previously announced that Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, will receive the 2026 International Emmy Founders Award during the November ceremony.